From: coleb                Wed Jul 24, 1996 -- 01:47:06 PM
To: [log in to unmask]@
Most of you know that I am from central Wisconsin, the heart of dairyland,
USA.  I haven't really felt any negative vibes being the LC here because of
that, but I did want to mention something I am planning for August.  We have
this huge cow, about 10 ft tall and maybe 12 feet long, that is used for
advertising.  I pass this thing every day on my way to work and realized what
an opportunity I had waiting for me.
     "Human Milk for Human Babies  - WI Breastfeeding Awareness Month".
I'm renting it for 24 hours ($50/day) to put it in the mall parking lot from
3pm on Friday, Aug 2nd, to 3pm Saturday.  Well, I have received some words of
caution from our hospital marketing dept and a pediatrician that the farm
community may be very insulted by that.  So I proceeded to contact the
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, the American Dairy Assocation, the Wisconsin
Dairy Association, and  Dairy Management, Inc.  From those contacts I got
repeated assurance that dairy farmers make more money when mothers breastfeed
than when they use formula, but not really any support for breastfeeding.  I
finally received the verbal and written support that I had been looking for.
 A lady at the Dairy Council of Wisconsin (I can't believe there are this
many dairy groups) told me that breastfeeding is strongly supported by the
Dairy Council as optimal nutrition in the first year of life and that they
follow what the AAP recommends (BF for 1st year).  She sent me an article
from the Dairy Council called 'Scientific Status Report #14:  Infant/Child
Nutrition,' which is certainly less than what I wanted but here's what it
says.  "For healthy full-term infants, human or breast milk with appropriate
supplementation (i.e., vitamin D, iron, fluoride) is the preferred food
because of its nutritional as well as other benefits."  Well, that's a small
step in the right direction.  Don't worry, I plan to send her correct info on
"healthy", "full-term", and "appropriate supplementation".   I was quite
enlightened that I didn't hear ANY mention of formula companies as the
industry's co-horts, so to speak.  I wonder if we could get these dairy
associations to make a statement of support.  The advertising of such a
statement couldn't hurt either of us.  I'm not sure I want to be the
"speaker" for us, however.  Would KGA or KD, or anyone else care to grab this
opportunity?  I'll let you know who I talked to.

Barb Cole, RN, IBCLC